Who Prepares a Method Statement and What Role Does Safety Play? Let's Discuss!

Method Statement Preparation and Responsibilities

Please let me know about the preparation of the Method Statement and who is responsible for it. What is the role of Safety Personnel in the preparation of the Method Statement? Please clarify with an example.

Thanks.

Someone who has absolute responsibility and authority should be convinced that a particular job will be executed properly, timely, and safely for him to give a green signal to start the job. To that effect, he should receive a documented method statement for his approval from the person assigned with the execution. Usually, it will be the engineer/supervisor who prepares it.

The method statement outlines the scope of the work, tools and equipment to be used, safety precautions to be followed, tests to be conducted at each stage, supervision, and every step detailing how the work will be performed while integrating safety measures.

While the originator includes the safety equipment to be used and precautions to be taken, the document will be sent to the safety department for review and approval of safety concerns. If there are further recommendations from the safety department, these will be incorporated and endorsed by the safety in-charge. The method statement will be adjusted accordingly before final submission for approval.

I hope this is clear.

Regards, Kesava Pillai

Dear Keshav Pillai Sir, Thanks for your great reply. Hope it will clear the thread starter's doubt.

Dear Manish, Actually, I would like to share the concept that we are following in our plant. The terminology we are using is SWP (Safe Work Procedure), whereas you were mentioning a Method Statement. Moreover, both are the same.

SWPs are created by a group of engineers, supervisors, or section heads of that particular section in our plant, and the same has been approved by the concerned HOD of that specific department. If the HOD has any doubts regarding the safe execution of a job or precautionary measures to be taken, he contacts the Safety Department for further assistance.

The role of a Safety Professional is to ensure that all jobs are carried out with specific SWPs through proper auditing.

For example, in a welding job on the ground floor and at a height of 10 meters, the SWPs for both will be different. What individuals, like engineers or supervisors, mainly do is take a printout of what they created for the welding job and use it wherever they are welding. This defeats the purpose of requiring SWPs for each job. Therefore, the safety professional should ensure that each SWP is created after undergoing a proper risk assessment. The safety professional should also ensure the availability of specific and high-quality SWPs for each job.

Regards

Dear All,

As per the summary of Mr. Kesavajee and Mr. Dipil, I understand that this method statement/SWP is essentially a Work Permit System. However, the work permit system covers all the issues that you have shared here.

Am I correct in my understanding or not? Please comment.

Regards.

Dear SRM, the Work Permit System is different from the Work Method Statement. In the Work Permit, the Method Statement or SWP will appear as a checkpoint. One should issue a work permit only if there is a proper SWP for the job. I hope other seniors will also comment on your query if I am wrong.

@ Raghu, what's your opinion on this???

Dear Mr. Keshava and Mr. Dipil, I am grateful to both of you for clearing my doubt. However, I have another question: what is the role of a Safety Personnel in job-oriented Method Statement Preparation? Is this the responsibility of the Safety Personnel on-site? Please clarify.

Dear Manish Anand,

While studying safety engineering, one will learn all the theoretical aspects of safety. To practice the theory one has learned, they have to continue learning. There are many tools in safety, such as JSA, JHA, Hazard analysis, Work permit, and Safe work methods - the list is long. Often, safety professionals are in a dilemma when differentiating between them.

There is no hard and fast rule regarding the adoption of safety tools. It is up to the particular industry to choose the best one suited to them.

Safe work procedures go along with JSA/JHA. Normally, a JSA will be conducted to prepare a safe work procedure, although it is not always adhered to. A Safe Method Statement is synonymous with a safe work procedure. Preparing a JSA or a safe work procedure is not the responsibility of an individual but a teamwork involving personnel from different departments, including safety.

However, a method statement is entirely different. It focuses on the engineering aspects of the work. In a method statement, detailed safety information may not be provided, but it will mention how safety will be integrated. For example:
1. Safe work procedures will be prepared and followed.
2. JSA is conducted and attached.
3. All employees will use appropriate PPE.
4. Work permits will be obtained before starting the work, etc. It will include general safety statements.

Mainly, a method statement provides various steps on the engineering and execution parts of the job. Preparing a Method Statement is the absolute responsibility of engineering departments. It is essentially the responsibility of line management who are to execute the job. Here we emphasize that safety is only a staff function.

Your Answer is Here:

1. Safety personnel are not the ones to prepare method statements. It is the responsibility of the individuals who are to execute the job, usually discipline engineers/supervisors.
2. The role of a safety officer concerning a method statement is to oversee and ensure that safety is well taken care of, and, to that effect, help with safety recommendations beyond what engineering has projected.

Hope all your doubts are cleared with this.

Regards, Kesava Pillai

Dear Dipil, I was a little confused while reading on the first day because the term "METHOD STATEMENT" is new to me. Usually, we refer to it as a "WORK STATEMENT" (though it may vary from place to place). However, with your help and that of Mr. Kesav, I am clear now. Mr. Kesav explained everything nicely. Thanks for sharing.

Preparation of Method Statement

The method statement shall be prepared by the person who is going to be in charge of execution and vetted by HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment).

Regards.

Thanks for the great explanations. I have benefited from the entire discussion. Thanks, and keep on sharing your expertise in the future too.